Of brooklyn



Jl. annate.

Steam Heater.

Patented May I0; 1870.

dhii'ilre.

v 'Lancement No. 102,070, camz May 10, 1870.

Mwah- Y `'a'IMospianata VALVE ron HOUSE Bormes;

The Schedule referred to inthse Letters Patent and making part of `the same To whom it 'may concern: Y

Be it known that I, JOHN H. RHODES, of Brooklyn, in the county of VKings and State of New York, have invent-ed a new and useful Improvement in Atmospheric Valves for House Boilers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referlig. v1, of an atmospheric valve for house boilers, constr'uctcd in 'accordance with myinvention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. Theiobject of the improven'ieut will be best explained by stating that h ouse boilers, as at present constructed or provided, are not unfifequently exposed to collapsing from external pressure and the pipes to injury, by reason of a vacuum being formed within the "same, and which, when the service-pipes are tight',- there is usually no relief to, or prevention of. Thus the breaking or emptying of the main which supplies the service-pipe, or raising of steam-in the boiler of superior pressure to the head of water, and subsequent con` densation of said steam, after the same has become `attenuated bythe return ot' water, to take the place of that previously forced out of the boiler by the steam, produces a vacuum within the boiler, which causes or endangers its collapse.v

To provide against any such danger in an automatic manuel', and thus to secure perfectsafety, is the purpose of the invention, which consists ina peculiarly-constructyed valvular device, designed to be arranged in connection with the inlet-pipe tothe boiler, and so that it canitf'tdily be applied to` any or all boilers, whether new or old,` said valve automatically opening for'the admission of air,-wl ien ever the external .pressure is in excess of that within the boiler, thereby pre-` venting theproduction of a vacuum within the latter, lno matter from what cause.

Referring to the-accompanying drawing- A represents a screw-nozzle, which may be permanently secured tothe boiler ou its outside, for attachment within it ofthe cold-water supply-pipe, that leads down into the boiler, .and for connect-ion ou its outside of the atmospheric valvular' device proper, which is made in the form of acoupling, B, provided at its one end with a female thread, a, to establish connect-ion with the nozzle A, and seat for a packing, b, to make tight such connection, and `furnished at its opposite end with a male thread, c, to make the connection with 'the outside supply or inlet-pipe, also, which coupling Orca/sting B is tted on its side with a valve,

C, that is free to open inward, and closes against or,

over orifices (ld, made in an external hollow nut or box, D, that constitutes o'n its inner side or face the valve-seat f, sai/d nut `or box, which vmay also serve as a guide. to the'valve-stem, being open vor exposed to the air ou its outside, and communicating, by the orices (l el, with the interior of the coupling.

This nut or box is represented as screwing into the side ofthe piece or casting B, under closure by packing, as at c, in figs. 2 and 3.

The cavity g, in which the valveplays, is not only of somewhat larger diameter than the valve, to allow o f free play of the latter, and of air working past its edge, when said valve is thrown inward or away from the orifices d d, but the bottom h of said /cavity is made at such a depth, or of suchirregular format-ion, 1

that, while it acts as a check to restrain the valve from being forced into the pipe or coupling" B, to 'an extent that will allow of water, when returned or caused to till the pipe, acting upon both faces ot' thc -valve to keep it open, and so that the shutting of said valve over' the orifices d d, is'insured by the low or pressure of the water through the pipe and coupling, yet free passage for air around the edges of the valve or through uncovered sections t tof the interior of the pipe or coupling is secured when the-valve isl thrown inward by the formation of a vacuum on the inside of the pipe. These provisions are essential tcthe proper operation vof the valve.

Thus constructed, said atmospheric valve may be applied with facility and dispatch to vboilers now in use, as well as new ones, and forms a cheap and simple attachment or intervening device to the inlet-pipe, which will veffectually prevent the formation of a vacuum in the boiler or pipes, b'y f reel y admitting air to equalize the pressure wh'enever the pressure on the outside is in excess of that within.

That is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

The atmospheric valve for house boilers, constructed of a coupling or body part, B, having male and female screw-threads w and c at its opposite ends, also providedtwit-h a side valve, C, a hollow,nut, D, forming a valve-scat, f, and a check o1" stop, h, establishing openings 1'- all being arranged substantially as described, for operation in connection'with t-he inlet-pipe to the. boiler, essentially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

JOHN H. RHODES. Witnesses:

FRED. Heraus,

E. BABEAU. 

